Orbitz revenue tops forecasts; Morningstar, KapStone, Navigant

Shares of online travel company Orbitz soared after it reported better-than-expected revenue despite a wider loss, while

Chicago-based Orbitz Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: OWW) said its fourth-quarter loss was $314.6 million, or $2.96 per share, compared with a loss of $46.5 million, or 44 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding goodwill and impairment charge of $321.2 million, the company earned 6 cents per share, a penny lower than analysts estimates for earnings of 7 cents per share. Revenue rose 7 percent to $189.7 million, which beat the average forecast of $184.9 million.

Shares of Orbitz were up nearly 17 percent to $3.15 a share by Thursday afternoon.

In other earnings news:

Morningstar Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN) said fourth-quarter earnings rose 18 percent to $33 million from $28 million a year ago. The Chicago-based investment research company said revenue rose 7.6 percent to $170.6 million. Morningstar shares were up more than 1 percent to $69.32 a share Thursday.

Northbrook-based KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. (NYSE: KS) said its quarterly profits dropped 86 percent to $10.2 million, or 22 cents per share, from $74.2 million, or $1.56 per share, a year earlier. Sales rose 12 percent to $301 million due mainly to an acquisition. KapStone shares rose more than 5 percent to $26.20 a share Thursday afternoon.

Chicago-based consulting firm Navigant (NYSE: NCI) posted earnings of $13.5 million, or 26 cents per share, up 22 percent from $11.1 million, or 21 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 14 percent to $194 million. Shares of Navigant were up almost 5 percent to $12.04 a share Thursday.